It was an action packed Rose Bowl Media Day in downtown Los Angeles with Indiana and Alabama. Post Media availability Rhett Lewis and I sat down for a LIVE podcast collaboration with Y-Option and Big Red Carpet with our biggest takeaways after interviewing players and coaches from Indiana & Alabama.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Each team will hit the practice field today as they put the finishing touches on their preparation for the Granddaddy of Them All. Rhett and I lay out what that prep could look like on game-day while assessing the biggest matchups and identifying the pathways to victory for both teams.

Our collab also hit on major college football news, including Chip Kelly landing as the new Offensive Coordinator at Northwestern!

Thanks for joining the LIVE and stay tuned to Y-Option for more insight and analysis in advance of the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff!

If you missed our Y-Option: Scouting deep dive on Miami and Ohio State be sure to check it out for paid subscribers.

Much more to come over the next few days!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Kyle Whittingham was named the 22nd Head Coach at Michigan yesterday and all day I spent thinking about how college football continues to deliver storylines that none of us can predict.

Here is a detail look at who I believe Kyle Whittingham to be based on covering his teams since the Fiesta Bowl 20 years ago.

Hope you enjoy and looking forward to this week as we have a few things coming your way here at Y-Option.

* Deep dive into a few quarterfinal games with Y-Option: SCOUTING

* Full coverage from the Rose Bowl alongside Rhett Kleinschmidt The Big Red Carpet

* And be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page for content as well.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Happy holidays—and I hope you enjoyed the first round of the College Football Playoff.

With Christmas approaching and another college football season sliding toward its next chapter, Jim Mora is beginning one of his own.

The new head coach at Colorado State joined the Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, to share the why behind his decision to lead CSU in the reborn Pac-12.

What struck me most in our conversation wasn’t the résumé—NFL head coach, UCLA head coach, program rebuilder at Connecticut, mentor to generations—not even our long friendship.

It was the choice.

The decision to take on something unfinished. To step into uncertainty. To begin again—not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Jim Mora has lived inside football his entire life. Not as a job, but as an inheritance. A family calling that shaped him as a coach, a son, a father, a husband, and a leader. From the Pac-8 days of his father’s career, to playing in the Pac-10, to coaching in the Pac-12, his journey mirrors the evolution of the sport itself.

Which is why this moment matters.

Colorado State isn’t a nostalgia play.It’s a belief play.

Jim is stepping into a re-imagined Pac-12. Into a conference finding its footing again. Into a program searching for identity and traction in a version of college football none of us could have fully imagined five years ago.

NIL.The portal.Revenue sharing.An expanded College Football Playoff.Realignment.

For some, that landscape feels overwhelming.

For Jim Mora, it feels familiar.

He sees today’s college football ecosystem as closer to the NFL than ever before. The portal functions like free agency. Recruiting resembles a draft. Financial realities echo a salary cap. The guardrails may differ, but the principles remain the same: roster construction, culture, alignment, and adaptability.

That word—adaptability—came up again and again.

You have to have a plan.You have to believe in fundamentals.You have to hold standards.

And you also have to be willing to adjust—often daily—without losing your core.

Coach Mora learned that from some of the greatest to ever do it: Hall of Fame coaches and executives who shaped how he views leadership, decision-making, and sustained excellence.

But none of it works without people.

Coach Mora has always been clear about that.

Building programs. Scaling mountains. Taking on challenges without guarantees. College football continues to pull him in because of the impact—the opportunity to shape young people during some of the most formative years of their lives. To teach lessons not only through success, but through failure. To help players grow into men, not commodities.

That perspective matters now more than ever.

The mountain ahead is clear.

A new program.A re-imagined conference.A legitimate—though demanding—path toward competing on the sport’s biggest stages.

And a daily commitment to do the work required to turn ambition into reality.

Jim Mora isn’t chasing legacy.He isn’t chasing comfort.

He’s chasing alignment with the work.

And maybe that’s the clearest lesson of all.

After all this time, he finally feels like he knows what he’s doing—even as he embraces the truth that the climb never ends.

I think you’ll enjoy this conversation as we all head into the holiday season, hopefully with a little time off, a good hike, or a fun surf.

On behalf of all of us at Y-Option, thank you for your love, support, and community.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Every season leaves clues.

About players. About coaches. About the direction of the sport. And about what matters mast when the noise fades and the games are done.

As the calendar turns and the postseason lights up, we wanted to pause—just briefly—to recognize four individuals who didn’t just post numbers or win games. They embodied the spirit of 2025 here at Y-Option.

So welcome to our 2025 Awards show as Jim Thornby and I reveal the Y-Option GO GO GO Awards, presented by our founding sponsor 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

My 5-Star Quarterback of the Year

Fernando Mendoza — Indiana

There are recruiting rankings. And then there are journeys.

Fernando Mendoza’s path—from two-star recruit to Heisman Trophy winner—may be one of the most compelling quarterback stories the sport has ever produced.

As a starter, Mendoza had a different offensive coordinator each season with a new systems and new expectations. Yet what never changed was his preparation, inner belief and competitive edge.

What stood out all season—and in New York over the weekend—wasn’t just the arm talent or the efficiency. It was his awareness. Of moments. Of teammates. Of the responsibility that comes with leading a program that hadn’t stood on this stage before.

He prepared like a pro long before the hardware arrived. He bet on himself when others didn’t. And now there’s a new generation of quarterbacks—somewhere in middle school, some headed to Elite 11—who will study him the way he once studied Tom Brady.

That’s impact.

Fernando Mendoza is our 2025 Five-Star Quarterback of the Year.

Go Go Gone Award

Makai Lemon — USC

The best receivers don’t just get open.

They rise.

Makai Lemon did exactly that in 2025—turning big moments, tight windows, and constant attention into production and presence. He led all Power Four receivers in yards, earned the Biletnikoff, and became only the second Trojan ever to take home that honor.

But what separated him wasn’t just what he did—it was how he did it.

Humility. Precision. Reliability. When defenses knew the ball was coming his way, he still delivered. When USC needed answers, he provided them.

That’s why every touch felt dangerous. And why every defense felt pressure.

Makai Lemon didn’t just stretch the field. He elevated it.

He is our 2025 Go Go Gone Award winner.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That Dude! Award

Kenyon Sadiq — Oregon

Every defensive coordinator asks the same question on Sunday night preparing to face the Ducks:

* Where is Kenyon Sadiq on every snap?

For Oregon, the answer was clear. He’s everywhere.

Kenyon Sadiq wasn’t just productive. He was positional chaos. Tight end. H-back. Slot. Backfield. Seam. Red zone. Motion. Mismatch.

Linebackers couldn’t run with him. Defensive backs couldn’t handle his size. And when injuries hit the Ducks’ receiver room, his impact only grew.

But this award has always been about more than stats.

It’s about presence. Professionalism. And setting the standard.

Sadiq followed the blueprint laid down before him—then elevated it. From how he entered practice, to how he prepared, to how he competed.

Which is why Kenyon Sadiq is That Dude! for Y-Option in 2025.

Headset Hero

Curt Cignetti — Indiana

Great coaching isn’t loud.

It’s consistent.

What Curt Cignetti has built at Indiana defies modern precedent. 24 wins and 2 losses in two seasons at a program that won 23 games in the previous 5 years combined! IU is a program reborn through evaluation, development, and unwavering standards.

I’ve known about Coach Cignetti for a while and getting to know him it’s clear - he leads with independent thoughts, uncommon consistency and elite communication.

Those are the pillars of great leadership. And few have embodied them like Coach Cignetti.

He didn’t chase trends. He didn’t lower expectations. He spoke belief into existence—and demanded that others rise to meet it.

In a season full of worthy candidates, this one was clear.

Curt Cignetti is Y-Option’s 2025 Headset Hero, presented by 76.

Final Whistle

Four awards. Four stories. One shared thread.

Preparation. Belief. Standards. Fearless.

As the College Football Playoff unfolds and the sport continues to evolve, these are the examples worth holding onto. The ones that remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place.

From all of us at Y-Option, thank you for riding with us through another season and enjoying today’s episode around our Awards and the first round of the College Football Playoff. Whether you’re here every week or just checking in, we don’t take it lightly.

We’ll keep going.We’ll keep asking better questions.And we’ll keep celebrating the people and who compete to make those around them better.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Fernando Mendoza win the Heisman! Join Rhett Lewis, Galen Clavio and myself as we talk about an incredible night in NYC.

Also - be sure to subscribe to Y-Option’s YouTube Channel.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Hey Y-Option Community,

Thank you for joining our Y-Option LIVE conversation as we dove into the simple question of “Why is College Football so Angry?”

Off to NYC for the Heisman and expect more content right here in your inbox.

Be sure to subscribe to get all content as the CFP gets underway in a matter of weeks.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Each week Todd Blackledge and I get to sit down with head coaches, coordinators and players in advance of our games. It’s a time where analysts glean insight into scheme, players and the game.

This week at Y-Option, Todd joined me to dive into the Big Ten Championship Game as we discussed what questions we would be seeking answers to if we were calling the Ohio State vs Indiana match-up. As always, our conversation is podcast is fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

It’s a fun conversation as Todd has called championship games before and both of us have recently called Ohio State and Indiana games so we try to paint a full picture of what each side is carrying into the biggest stage of their season.

We take a detailed look at Fernando Mendoza vs Matt Patricia’s defense and Brian Hartline’s offense against Bryant Haines’ defense, as well as the mental elements led by Ryan Day and Curt Cignetti.

The conversation evolves into a deeper look at Indiana’s rapid rise under Coach Cignetti, the disciplined way he has built the roster, and what his journey—from Alabama to IUP to James Madison to the Big Ten—reveals about evaluation, culture, and belief.

From there, the episode widens into the broader chaos of the sport: championship picks, coaching dominoes, portal season, and the looming sprint toward the Heisman and the College Football Playoff.

At its core, this episode is also a window into the fraternity of broadcasting—the camaraderie, the mentorship, and the genuine support that makes the profession special.

Be sure to subscribe to Y-Option as we have a lot of detailed analysis behind the paywall coming soon.

I’m off to Eugene to watch the title games and spend some time with the Ducks this weekend.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This week on Y-Option, fueled by our founding sponsor 76®—keeping you on the GO-GO-GO so you never miss a beat—I sat down with Jim Thornby to sort through one of the craziest weeks of the season: firings, rumors, rivalry games, and a playoff picture that refuses to settle.

We started with the news out of Berkeley: Cal moving on from Justin Wilcox after nine seasons. We unpacked what he meant to that program, the stability he brought through COVID and realignment, and the bigger question that now defines every open job—does the school have the alignment and NIL resources to truly compete, or are they just hoping to be bowl-eligible?

From there, the conversation moved to the coaching carousel at large: Lane Kiffin’s decision and the pull of blue blood jobs, what’s at stake at places like LSU, Florida, Penn State, UCLA and beyond, and how one move could set off a chain reaction across multiple conferences.

We then zoomed out to the CFP race. Who’s basically in regardless of what happens next, who needs chaos, and how the committee might view late-season momentum versus full-season resume. We hit on SEC scheduling, Notre Dame’s surge, Oregon and Washington’s collision course, and why rivalry week is going to make everything even messier.

Finally, we looked west: USC’s loss at Oregon, UCLA’s pending transition, and how the expanded playoff and portal era will shape the future of the sport.

It’s a full tour of where college football is right now—and where it might be headed in the next two weeks.

I’m off to call a huge rivalry as Purdue hosts Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket on NBC on Friday night.

Much love, stay steady and Happy Thanksgiving all!

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

There’s something raw and revealing about sitting down with a first-year head coach in the middle of a season that refuses to sit still. Schedules shift, emotions swing, and every week feels like both a marathon and a sprint. That’s the space Jimmy Rogers is living in right now at Washington State, and it’s the backdrop for the latest conversation on Y-Option, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

This week, the Cougs stand at 5–5 and pack their bags for a cross-country trip to face James Madison—a program that’s earned national attention and Cinderella CFP conversation. Washington State has been in the fight in nearly ever big road game this year, and the timing felt right to bring their new leader onto the show. And being an honorary Coug, it just had to happen!

What followed was a look behind the curtain at what it truly means to take over a program in this new era of college football and a man who truly understands the Role of a Coach.

Rogers stepped into Pullman facing a landscape that had been reshaped by change. A new staff. More than 75 newcomers. A handful of veterans who had lived through multiple coaching transitions. The question looming over all of it was simple but daunting: How do you take all those pieces and build a culture that can withstand the long haul?

That’s where this conversation lives.

I heard a man who’s absorbed every challenge—roster turnover, expectation resets, the pressure to win immediately—and continued to build forward. It was clear how he views leadership in a time when the portal never closes, when continuity is rare, and when the identity of a program has to be crafted at full speed. And you see why Washington State believed he was the one to steady the program, set its direction, and carry it into the next era in the re-imagined Pac-12.

Two games remain in year one: the trip to James Madison and a finale against Oregon State, a matchup steeped in the uniqueness of this final Pac-12 year. What comes next—bowl eligibility, momentum into recruiting, the foundation for year two—will unfold quickly. But after spending real time with Coach Rogers, it’s clear he’s planted something meaningful. A vision. A plan. A belief system.

Year one is rarely smooth, but you can hear the clarity in how he’s navigating every step.

For Cougs fans, this conversation paints a roadmap into the future.

For anyone curious about what it’s really like to take over a program in 2025, it’s a masterclass in vulnerability, leadership, and the grind of big-time football.

The Afterglow

I first connected with Coach Rogers after he took the job, at an event in the Pacific Northwest. Even in a crowded room it was obvious—this guy has presence. And presence matters when you’re tasked with reshaping a roster and reestablishing a program’s pulse.

Listening to him lay out the chaos and the clarity of year one reminded me how difficult this job is, especially now. But it also reminded me why certain coaches break through: they see the road ahead before anyone else does.

Two games remain. A bowl berth is within reach. And if everything breaks right, maybe the Cougs even end up in Los Angeles—selfishly, I’d love that. There’s something special about this version of Washington State, something that feels like it’s sharpening week by week.

No matter how the final stretch goes, year one under Jimmy Rogers has delivered something every program wants: direction.

And that’s why you hire him.

This weekend

I’ll be on the West Coast again this weekend, closing out your Saturday night on the call for Washington at UCLA from the Rose Bowl—potentially the final matchup of its kind in that historic venue. There’s a lot happening in college football right now. Jobs opening. Decisions looming. Seasons turning.

But before all that unfolds, spend some time with the Cougs.

And as always, if you want every interview, insight, and Y-Option story delivered straight to your inbox—multiple times a week, especially as the CFP run heats up—please subscribe to Y-Option as we value our community on so many levels.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Gary Danielson loves to compete.

And like all elite competitors, what is never seen, or heard is the how they talk to themselves when all else is quiet. When doubters show up, they remind themselves they are playing a completely different game. Rather, an infinite one.

That’s Gary.

For decades we have heard his voice: coaching viewers and celebrating the game.

Today he joins the Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

I met Gary in 2018. I was calling pre-season games for the short lived Alliance of American Football League (AAF) and he was set to be the main voice on the air for the regular season. As the broadcast began I looked over my left shoulder and there he was. A legend in the business and a man studying the game, honing his craft.

At halftime I said hello but was too nervous to ask legit questions, gain advice and lean into his welcoming nature.

This past July that all changed.

We had a profound conversation at Big Ten Media Days, one that impacted me on so many levels, and since then have been able to forge a relationship. I learned that Gary, much like the giants in college football media, are kind, thoughtful and when in the twilight of their careers—only want to help.

He did. He has.

When I sat down with him for this week’s episode of Y-Option, I found a man who still sees the game the way a quarterback does—scanning the field, anticipating pressure, staying calm in chaos.

Gary has spent decades calling the biggest games in college football—his voice layered into the sport’s history like a soundtrack for fall Saturday’s. But beneath the broadcast polish is a story about grit, belief, and what it means to compete when the odds say otherwise.

He began as an overlooked college player who refused to give up. When the NFL didn’t call, he made his own calls—writing letters to every team in the league until one gave him a shot. That moment defined him. It wasn’t luck. It was conviction.

And that same conviction carried him through an extraordinary second act—not as a player, but as a broadcaster who treated every assignment like a game that mattered. Week after week, year after year, he studied film, built edges of puzzles, and trusted his instincts once the lights came on. He never coasted. He never took a play off.

What stands out most about Gary isn’t his longevity—it’s his consistency. Whether he was breaking down a play on CBS or in a production meeting with players, he has approached each moment with respect for those who play, coach and watch. He saw broadcasting as a responsibility—not just to inform, but to teach and reveal the deeper beauty of the game.

Now, in his final few games on CBS, there’s a grace to how he talks about walking away. He’s proud, but not boastful. Competitive, but grounded. What drives him is the same thing that fueled him as a player: doing the work, earning trust, and honoring the craft.

At 74, he still sees himself as a player—not because he misses the roar of the crowd, but because the mindset never left him. Compete. Prepare. Respect the game. Elevate your teammates. Finish strong. Inspire others. And always believe in yourself.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

No planes this week as have a home game with Iowa visiting USC in a game that will be won at the line of scrimmage and what should be a sold out Coliseum. Hope you enjoy another week in college football, as the regular season is almost over.

As always—much love and stay steady,

Yogi

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